When I think of buying gifts for my friends and family, whether they are homesteaders or not, I like to make sure the gifts I give are thoughtful.
That means they have a great story, are handmade, are exactly what the recipient wants, or a combination of all three.
In this homesteader gift guide, I’ve tried to find items that appeal to those sentiments and will truly make your gift recipients smile.
2022 Homesteader Gift Guide
When buying gifts for homesteaders, we’re pretty easy to please with canning supplies, garden tools, and lots of books.
But on the other hand, we can be a bit tough to buy for, too. When you live a life of self-reliance, there are fewer things that really impress you (homemade treats and handmade items are just standard).
So it’s always nice to get a glimpse at some of the thoughtful gifts that others are eyeing for themselves (not that I would know anything about that *wink*) or for their homesteading loved ones.
For Any Homesteader
Whether renters of a small space in the city or owners of 50 acres, these gifts are perfect for just about anyone on a homesteading journey.
Rain Collection System
Collecting rain for the garden, animals, or humans on the homestead is a great way to use what you have. These rain collection ideas are perfect for getting your gift recipient started with rainwater harvesting.
Solar Panels
Bringing power to the homestead is one of the biggest obstacles a new homesteader will face. Solar panels are an excellent gift for off-grid enthusiasts.
Reusable Grocery Bags
I love these bags! I’ve had mine for many years, and they are still holding up. They pack down small so that I can keep them in my purse. I can fit a week’s worth of groceries in just four bags, so they are really convenient to have around.
Customizable Homestead Sign
I love this sign! There are many rustic/homestead/farmhouse-type signs available, but I like this one because it’s so affordable and has excellent reviews.
Boot Scraper
If you know a homestead enthusiast that also enjoys keeping a neat house, then a boot scraper like this one is a must—especially during the winter and spring months when it tends to be especially wet and muddy out.
Grow Your Own Shiitake Mushrooms
I almost put this in the kids’ section because it would be perfect for a science experiment, but it also works as a gift for adults.
Mushrooms are typically a foraged food, but I don’t feel comfortable trying to learn which ones are safe and which aren’t (yet). So this grow-your-own kit is an excellent choice for anyone looking to grow their own food.
Kindling Splitter
Chopping firewood is a chore, to say the least! Your homestead friend would love to receive anything that would make gathering and splitting firewood easier and less taxing on the body. This kindling splitter is portable and convenient.
Barn Boots
Let’s get practical. Muck boots are the gold standard for comfortable and durable barn boots. Every homesteader needs a pair!
Darn Tough Socks
Staying warm (and comfy) while working around the homestead in the winter can be a challenge. Gift the homesteader in your life with these high-quality, American-made socks.
They even come with a no-questions-asked lifetime warranty!
For the Animal Centric Homesteader
These gifts are for the homesteading animal enthusiast on your shopping list. They are the ones that love taking care of their animals above all else.
Chicken Forage Seed Mix
This seed mix mimics the nutrient blend chickens choose in the wild. So, you can plant it in your pasture and know that your chickens have access to a good mix of protein, carbohydrates, fat, etc. You can also feed your chickens the seeds directly or sprout them and make fodder (I’ve done all three!).
Amish-Made Beehive
If someone you love has been considering becoming a beekeeper, why not help them along with this beautiful USA-made beehive?
It’s a bit of an investment, but if you’re looking for a higher-end product, this is it!
Crazy Chicken Lady Shirt
Who doesn’t love cheeky t-shirts? This one is super cute and available in different colors. Find other farm-style shirts and color options here.
Chicken Mug
This mug is not your grandma’s farm animal mug, but it sure is a lot of fun! It would make the perfect gift for any chicken lover with an excellent sense of humor.
Chicken First Aid Kit
Having a chicken first aid kit on hand is a must for any homestead flock. Put your own first aid basket together or purchase a ready-made one for the chicken lover on your list.
“I Don’t Have Ducks or a Row” T-shirt
This cute T-shirt speaks to many of us. It says “I don’t have ducks or a row… I have chickens and they’re everywhere”.
For the Beginner
We all have to start somewhere and these resources are sure to help the budding homesteader determine where and how they can begin.
Carla Emery’s “The Encyclopedia of Country Living“
This is the first homestead-y book I ever read, and it totally opened my eyes to the possibilities of self-reliant living. I was glowing for weeks after reading it!
Deborah Niemann’s “Homegrown & Handmade“
This book gives an excellent overview of different homesteading topics.
What I like most about it is that it gives me the information I need to decide if fruit trees, home dairy, or handmade items are a good fit for me before I invest a lot of time researching those topics.
Homesteading Magazine Subscription
When you’re just getting started homesteading, staying motivated and excited about your goals is essential. Gift the new or aspiring homesteader in your life with a magazine subscription that will continually nourish their creativity and inspiration to live out their dreams.
A few excellent choices include Mother Earth News, Backwoods Home, Grit, Heirloom Gardener, Herb Quarterly, and Hobby Farms.
Simple Permaculture Design Roadmap Course
I fell in love with permaculture design years ago. I created this course to share what I’ve learned from implementing permaculture practices on my homestead and to show others how to create a permaculture homestead of their own, too.
Permaculture is a design technique used to create gardens and homesteads that mimic natural systems. Both new and seasoned homesteaders can benefit from this course as I show students how to go about the design process to grow more food with less effort—a goal any busy homesteader can surely get on board with!
For the Gardener
The garden is one of my favorite places to be. I love receiving gifts meant to help me garden. If you are shopping for someone like that, these gifts will make their holiday.
Fruit and Nut Trees
Trees need to be planted first on the homestead to get the most out of them since they usually need to grow a bit before producing. Give your homesteader fruit or nut trees to begin their own orchard.
Seed Savers Gifts
A couple of Christmases back, my sister gifted me a Seed Savers gift box. It came with packets of seeds (mine were blue ribbon tomatoes), and she added a gift card and garden twine. It was probably my favorite gift!
A Gorilla Cart
Garden carts like these are invaluable pieces of equipment for gardeners and homesteaders. Whether used for hauling compost, firewood, or something else entirely, a sturdy garden cart makes yard work much more manageable.
Leatherman Multitool
I can’t tell you how often I’ve gone out to check on the garden only to end up breaking squash stems, getting my nails dirty, or breaking them because bringing out bulky kitchen scissors and knives is inconvenient and… well, a bit dangerous.
Having a multitool, like this one, is an easy and safe way to make sure I have scissors, a knife, or a screwdriver available. I currently use a small multitool, but I think I’ll upgrade to this one real soon!
Gathering Basket
For longer than I have been a homesteader, I have loved baskets. And this one is perfect for gathering your harvest or for a million other uses around the homestead.
For the Homestead Kitchen Dweller
While I prefer to be outside in the garden or feeding chickens, I inevitably have to spend some time in the kitchen cooking and preserving.
Here are a few gift ideas for the homesteader that loves spending time whipping up new creations in the kitchen.
Fermentation Cultures and Tools
I love fermented foods, so I’m always excited to get something that will make fermenting easier. Here are some ideas:
- Fermentation cultures – everything from water kefir to sourdough
- Fermentation weights – helps keep the food from getting moldy
- Fermentation kits – everything you need to ferment
Butter Churn
What’s more homestead-y than an old-fashioned butter churn? I love how beautiful this butter churn is.
It’s a bit like an antique butter churn without the potential toxicity (who knows what kind of paint, etc., was used back then).
Stainless Steel Food Mill
The food mills of the past were likely all-aluminum, but this stainless steel version gives you all of the function (think applesauce, tomato sauce, pureed soup, etc.) without the toxicity of the aluminum.
USA-Made Ceramic Mixing Bowls
These bowls are so beautiful I can imagine whipping up a bunch of recipes in them. Ceramic is great for just about anything, but especially bread.
French Press
Not only is French pressed coffee “in” these days, but it’s completely off-grid friendly (no outlet necessary).
Food Storage Containers
Storage containers like these may not sound like an exciting gift to most, but I can tell you that having plenty of them on hand is helpful for food preservation and healthy living.
Food Dehydrator
Most people consider these food dehydrators the best of the best. If your gift recipient likes to preserve food, this is a great gift.
For the Crafter
Homestead crafts offer endless possibilities. These gift ideas are sure to inspire your homestead pal to get crafty!
Beeswax Candle Making Kit
This kit would make the perfect gift for someone interested in learning how to make candles from beeswax. Plus, it would be a fun indoor activity to do with kids during the winter.
Hand-Spun Wool Yarn
This beautiful hand-spun and dyed wool yarn would delight any yarn-crafter. The colors are just so brilliant!
Cold-Process Soap Making Kit
Homemade soap is a big deal in the homesteading realm. And this kit has everything (minus the lye) your homestead friend needs to get started making their own soap, too.
Mountain Rose Herbs Gift Certificate
Another idea that could fit multiple categories is giving a gift certificate to Mountain Rose Herbs. This site is the premier destination for anyone looking for medicinal herbs (and other supplies) for making teas, tinctures, soaps, lotions, and other herbal-based crafts or home goods.
For the Kids
Homesteading with kids is such a joy! Take a look at these gift ideas perfect for kids living the farm life.
Archery Set
We have this set that comes with two bows and sets of arrows. It’s an affordable way to give kids a taste of archery to see if they would like to learn more. The arrows are rubber-tipped so are fairly safe (though, of course, rules such as no aiming at people are important).
Farm Shirts
This kids’ t-shirt is adorable (and often true). I discovered this company at the Homesteaders of America Conference and fell in love. (Psst… there’s an adult one too!)
Flower Press Kit
Encourage kids to observe (and preserve) their natural surroundings with this customizable flower press kit. Simple tools like this make eco-crafting a lot of fun.
Farm-Opoly
I never liked monopoly as a kid. But I’m sure this version would have been more appealing since most kids know more about farm animals than properties, utilities, and railroads.
Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game
I heard about this foraging and wildcrafting game from a business and marketing expert. I thought it sounded like a great way to get kids excited about foraging and learning about medicinal plants.
Kids’ Outdoor Adventure Book: 448 Great Things to Do in Nature Before You Grow Up
Homestead kids tend to be outside more than other kids anyway, but we’re all human and can fall into patterns of staying in more than is beneficial. This book would be a fantastic resource for those days when the kids just don’t know what to do with themselves.
Green Kids Crafts
These are always on my list of fun gift ideas for my kids. Green Kids craft boxes are full of eco-conscious art, science, and discovery activities geared toward kids ages 3-10. You can grab one-off boxes or get a monthly subscription for a gift that gives all year long.
(For more ideas for meaningful gifts for kids, check out this post.)
For the Handmade Gift Purist
There’s something beautiful about handmade gifts. For those of you wanting to make at least some of your gifts, here are a few ideas:
Organic Foundation (and other beauty products)
Homemade Leave-in Conditioning Spray
Shaving Soap (for men or women!)
Bacon Bark (what!? Yes, it’s true!)
Check out this guide for more homemade gift ideas!
If you know someone who would love this homesteader gift guide, please share!
Leave a Reply